-44 lb
Before
After
Why did you want to lose weight?
In my youth, I was part of a swimming club for years and was very athletically active. When I got to high school and wanted to concentrate on studying, I stopped swimming. Until that point, I had never had problems with my body or weight. I could eat what I wanted without gaining. After I stopped swimming, I didn't change my eating habits. Without exercise to balance everything out, I started gaining a lot of weight without really noticing.
"Don't compare yourself and your progress with others. Every body is different."
Over the past few years, I've tried all sorts of diets, like low-carb, weight-loss globules and shakes instead of proper meals. At first, the diets worked and I lost a lot of weight quickly. However, the yo-yo effect followed. As a result, I got frustrated and ended up gaining more weight than I had lost in the first place.
I gained the most weight within the last 2 years, gaining 44 pounds. Being diagnosed with lipedema also played a big role. Lipedema is a fat distribution disorder that causes subcutaneous fatty tissue to increase. The disease usually occurs only in women and can cause intense pain and tenderness, especially in the arms and legs. That's why I often used the illness as an excuse for why I was gaining more and more weight.
What did you want to accomplish on your journey?
With every additional pound I gained, the pain increased. I would lie awake at night and couldn't sleep. My frustration caused me to eat more because I thought it would make me happier and help me forget the pain. On the surface, I never let anyone see that I was unhappy with myself.
Last year, when I found a picture of myself significantly thinner and, at the same time, got my diagnosis for lipedema, a switch suddenly flipped in my mind. The main cause of my unhappiness and weight gain wasn't the lipedema, but my own attitude and excuses that were worsening the situation.
I wanted to change this and develop a better understanding of nutrition. I wanted to finally get in shape again and be comfortable with my body.
How did you reach your goals?
I finally knew that I had to change something and weighed myself for the first time again. I was shocked and didn't know where I should start. With help from various Instagram accounts, I came across the YAZIO app.
To Uyen’s Tips
Don't look for reasons why it won't work. Just do it.
Be honest with yourself when tracking your food.
Focus on your goal and look for motivation.
Reward yourself for small accomplishments along the way.
Don't give up when things don't work out right away. Give yourself and your body time to adjust to dietary changes.
I finally reached my goal by paying more attention to what I was eating and consciously deciding if I was actually hungry or just bored.
How did YAZIO help you?
YAZIO really helped me change my diet. I learned which nutrients were important for the body and what would fill me up, as well as being able to eat delicious food without going hungry.
Not only did I lose 44 pounds in 7 months, I finally managed to develop healthy eating behaviors and learned to treat myself to foods without feeling guilty. I also got into better shape and became more active through things like hula hooping, jogging, Zumba or home workouts. I finally feel comfortable in my own body, I have fun putting on nice clothes and don't have to hide myself anymore.
There are still days I look in the mirror and can't believe it's me. The weight loss has also decreased the pain I was experiencing from the lipedema. My doctor said I should be proud of myself and that people with this condition often have trouble losing weight—and I am proud of myself!
Did you have setbacks?
Of course, I've also had setbacks. For example, there were days when I thought I had eaten healthily, but I still gained weight. It's so incredibly important to keep going and be patient.
What advice do you have for other users?
The most important thing is to keep going and be patient with yourself. Your body didn't accumulate the weight overnight, but over a longer period of time. Losing weight requires time too.
What are your future goals?
My goal is to maintain my weight and to stay in shape and remain active.
Why do you want to tell your story?
I want to share my story to help encourage people that are in a similar situation. One last tip would be to set realistic goals and increase them over time. It's nicer to celebrate small goals than it is to set a big goal right off the bat. Reward yourself along the way with something nice and be proud of every pound you let go of.
A lot of times, Instagram accounts helped keep me motivated and pushed me not to give up. I want to pay that forward. I'm also really proud of my accomplishments, and why shouldn't something like that be shared with others?
